All Honduran officers from captains on up train at the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC).

Formerly it was called the School of the Americas (SOA). It’s popularly known as the “School of Assassins.”

It teaches how to torture, repress, exterminate poor and indigenous people, overthrow democratically elected governments, assassinate targeted leaders, and suppress popular resistance when it erupts.

Its graduates specialize in state terror. They brutalize, disappear, and massacre elements perceived as threats to their authority. No one lives safe under these conditions.

Honduras’ reputation as the world’s murder capital is well deserved. Political and human rights activists, unionists and independent journalists are especially at risk. Conditions are exacerbated by Washington’s complicity.

On May 11, a US helicopter attack killed four Hondurans, including two pregnant women. Another four were wounded during an anti-drug raid.

American Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) militants were involved. They then stormed homes while occupants slept.

Witnesses said masked men spoke English. Hilaria Zavala said six men kicked in her door at 3AM, threw her husband to the floor, and threatened him at gunpoint.

Earlier, the DEA acknowledged its involvement in Honduras. Nonetheless, spokeswoman Dawn Dearden said agency personnel weren’t in the village on May 11.

Honduran security ministry spokesman Hector Ivan Mejia said he knew nothing about the raid. Police claimed cocaine was aboard the targeted vessel. They said those onboard fired first. They shot back in “self-defense.”

Conflicting Honduran military reports said agents fired on civilians by mistake. Another claimed those killed were drugs traffickers.

Villagers are enraged. Nearby Ahuas Mayor Lucio Vaquedano said they have nothing to do with drugs. Victims were fishing. Helicopter fire machine-gunned them to death. It was cold-blooded murder.

Indigenous Miskito group leaders said:

“For centuries we have been a peaceful people who live in harmony with nature, but today we declared these Americans to be persona non grata in our territory.”

Candelaria Trapp, one of the slain victims, left behind six motherless children.

In response, residents burned government buildings. They demand US agents leave. On May 5, The New York Times headlined “Lessons of Iraq Help US Fight a Drug War in Honduras,” saying:

Washington established “three new (Honduran) forward bases.” The country “is the latest focal point in America’s drug war.” Allegedly US forces only fire in “self-defense.” May 11 proved otherwise.

Moreover, an alleged “drug war” is a red herring. America’s CIA trafficked them for decades. Wall Street and other major banks launder billions in illicit profits.

Written or acknowledged rules of engagement authorize free fire zone directives. In Iraq and Afghanistan they ordered killing every military-aged man in sight. Honduras perhaps is no different.

US wars on terror, drugs, or for other reasons get carte blanche authority to operate freely. Limitations don’t apply. Honduran and US Special Forces work with DEA agents. It’s more about repression than stopping trafficking.

“There is no end in sight to violence and repression in Honduras. There is also no end in sight to American and Canadian governments and business maintaining political, economic and military relations with the military-backed regime.”

Last May, 87 congressional members pushed back a little, not enough. In a letter to Hillary Clinton, they urged suspending military and related aid. House Foreign Affairs ranking Democrat, Howard Berman (D. CA) asked whether Washington was arming a dangerous regime.

In December, Senator Patrick Leahy (D. VT) and others won small concessions on what’s supplied, but not enough to matter.

US Peace Corps volunteers left. It’s “one more sign (Honduras) deteriorated to crisis levels not seen since the” 1980s Contra wars. “The country is quickly turning into a disaster zone.”

US-backed Honduran officials “are complicit in the violence and criminality.” The country is a virtual “free-fire zone.” Its murder rate exceeds 82 per 100,000. In Miami, it’s 5.5 per 100,000.

In a nation of eight million, nearly 7,000 2011 homicides were reported. It increased 250% in the last six years. It reflects the world’s highest per capita rate.

Security forces are directly involved. State-sponsored violence is policy. Police and military elements are “enforcers and bodyguards for drug traffickers.”

Journalists, whistleblowers, and prosecutors courageous enough to point fingers are murdered. Top law enforcement officials are involved. National Police director Jose Ricardo Ramirez del Cid is complicit.

Internal police reports named him and others. Violations go unaddressed. Lobo looks the other way. He’s directly complicit. So are lawmakers, government bureaucrats, and top Washington officials.

The stench of corruption and other crimes in Honduran high places is too clear to ignore. By providing arms, funding and training, Washington’s directly involved.

“(W)here’s the accountability,” asked the editorial? “Congress should withdraw assistance if the Honduran government blocks reforms. This crisis requires more than tough talk.”

So far, meaningful change remains elusive. Washington’s to blame for the region’s worst state terror. It backs other notorious despots globally.

It’s official state policy. Bipartisan support backs it. Change depends on Americans no longer putting up with what no one should tolerate. Perhaps one day they will. They better. Human survival’s at stake.

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening.

Stephen Lendman was born in 1934 in Boston, MA. In 1956, he received a BA from Harvard University. Two years of US Army service followed, then an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1960. After working seven years as a marketing research analyst, he joined the Lendman Group family business in 1967. He remained there until retiring at year end 1999. Writing on major world and national issues began in summer 2005. In early 2007, radio hosting followed. Lendman now hosts the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network three times weekly. Distinguished guests are featured. Listen live or archived. Major world and national issues are discussed. Lendman is a 2008 Project Censored winner and 2011 Mexican Journalists Club international journalism award recipient.

About Stephen

Stephen Lendman was born in 1934 in Boston, MA. In 1956, he received a BA from Harvard University. Two years of US Army service followed, then an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1960. After working seven years as a marketing research analyst, he joined the Lendman Group family business in 1967.